Menstrual Cycle - Proliferative Phase, Secretory Phase, Menstruation

changes lining cyclic uterus

The menstrual cycle technically refers to the cyclic changes that take place in the lining of the human uterus over the course of approximately 28 days in adult females. These cycle changes are associated with cyclic changes in the ovaries and in the brain and ovarian hormones. The term "menstrual" comes from the Latin word menses, meaning month. The purpose of the cyclic changes is to prepare the uterine lining, called the endometrium, to receive a fertilized egg (the zygote). In response to hormone levels, the endometrium thickens as a result of increases in the cells and blood vessels. If fertilized action does not occur, the uterine lining breaks down. The blood, mucus, and pieces of tissue of the thickened endometrial lining are sloughed off through the cervix of the uterus and out of the vagina, in a process called menstruation.

The first phase of the menstrual cycle in the uterus is the proliferative phase, which is followed by the secretory phase, and then by menstruation. Cyclic changes in hormonal levels control and orchestrate the events of the menstrual cycle.

Additional Topics

During the proliferative phase in the uterus, the wall of the endometrium begins to thicken. This phase of the uterus begins at the end of menstruation and lasts until ovulation, when the egg is ejected from the ovary. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain, targets the ovaries and triggers the maturation process of up to 25 follicles. Each month,…

During the secretory phase of the uterus, the hormone progesterone is produced by the ovaries. Progesterone (as well as estrogen) is secreted by the corpus luteum, (which means yellow body), which develops from the Graafian follicle. Progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum stimulates the further build-up of the cells in the endometrium of the uterus. Progesterone also stimulates the glands in t…

The expulsion of tissue and blood from the uterus lasts from three to eight days, with much variation among women. Some women experience painful cramps during menstruation, which are the result of uterine contractions that expel the endometrium. Hormones known as prostaglandins are produced by uterine cells during menstruation, and the excessive production of prostaglandins is associated with stro…

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about 7 years ago

what are cell s associated with cyclic change in tissue of women during menstral cycle